Busy May

Lots of happenings this week. Time sure flies when you are having fun!

Weston's preschool graduation was 45 minutes of songs! Weston was by far the loudest and most animated, he won the award for best singer and his teacher stopped the whole show so he could use the bathroom in the middle of the performance! He is sure to be a star someday, or a superhero since he spends all his spare time practicing for that. Look at these pictures! They are cool and awesome. (Weston won't let us call him cute anymore, only cool and awesome.)




My cousin Cassi was in town looking for homes and they were gracious enough to use Jared as their realtor. I was able to babysit their cute kids ages 5, 3, and 1, a couple of times while they were house hunting. They were sure fun and cute! I also got a visit with my cool and awesome Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Rick.





We went to Gunnison to be with many Schauers Saturday and on the way I stopped by my long time friend Maria Olson's home in Payson as she and Clarence recently bought a home. She was doing very well and it was great to visit with her for a while. She has some cool and awesome kids who played with Fiora.



At Gunnison we had a nice visit and dinner. AFter dinner the twins fell asleep in their respective chairs. Chad and Robin Schauers were here from Montana with their cool and awesome kids, my kids love to play with them.




So lots of happenings! The kids also had a dance festival this week but I only got video of it. Fiora did an Israeli dance and Savanna did an American dance. Savanna had her baptism interview with the Bishop and passed, so June 6th at 1:00 PM please join us at our Stake Center on 1000 North and 450 West for her special day.

Savanna's 8

Savanna is 8 and for her birthday this year she was showered with love. Saturday the 16th we had a little friend party going miniature golfing and hitting the awesome pinata Gma Sandy gave her shaped like a giant flip flop. Here's my rushed and sad attempt at a cake. (I had to make it in a hurry the day before because of our "getaway.") It tasted pretty good. Then Jared and I took her out to dinner at Jason's Deli for a special one-on-two outing. She loved it. Wendy offered to watch the other two kids and invited us to stay and watch "Hotel for Dogs" in her theater after. The next morning Savanna requested omelets and Jared and I made her bacon onion cheese omelets, her favorite. We gave her a few gifts and then went to church. She got to be the reverence child and stand at the pulpit before the meeting began. After church the home teachers brought her some candy. Then (are you exhausted yet?) we took some dinner over to the Snow's home and had a dinner/party with all the Schauers. Unfortunately Grandma Sandy was battling some painful side effects of having a cancer removal procedure and couldn't come. But she sent up a gorgeous cake shaped like a lamb. So at least Savanna had one decent cake! Thanks Grandma. Wendy Snow presented Savanna with a baptism book and packet of symbols to remember at baptism, I may use it for a talk. She was given gifts and money from her aunts and uncles! By now I was exhausted. But you may have noticed the Barretts haven't factored in yet. My parents and siblings came over Monday evening and gave her even MORE gifts and love and we had a great dinner with them too. Savanna was extremely blessed this year. Age 8 is a big deal around these parts, and we are excited for this milestone and her baptism coming up June 6th. Savanna was crying in her bed last night and I impatiently asked her why, after all she had been so loved, and she said: "I'm embarrassed to tell you, I'm sad because it's over and I won't get any presents tomorrow." I translated that to mean she really loved her birthday--thanks everyone.

Getaway

My Birthday (not til the 26th) present this year from Jared was an overnight getaway to a Bed and Breakfast in Logan, I've never been to the Logan temple and have always wanted to because of its rich history and unique architecture. We stayed at the Providence Inn, also a historic building over 120 years old. (Lacey Weight stayed the night with our kids, they had a ton of fun with her. Crafts, movies, and giggling til midnight!) It was a perfect birthday gift. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Cement Pad

Well this year may as well be called the Home Improvement year. Here we have the side of the yard which is usually covered in knee-high weeds being transformed into a cement pad. Jared and I have wanted to do this since we moved in but always had many other things to spend our money on and saving for it took a few years. These "before" pictures don't show how atrocious this looked because Jared had mowed it and taken away all the garbage that had collected. It looks much much better. My uncle Mike Terry and his sons did the cement work, we recommend them if you are in need of concrete!

Here's some Home Improvement clips to celebrate:

Superboy

When we asked what his name was he said simply "Superboy"

(note: scissors, bucket opener, and B B gun are his weapons, an easle with a necklace woven through is the mask. Hope his cape doesn't snag...)

Mother's Day

Jared and the kids made me such a nice breakfast. Jared bought me a new dress and some shorts. The kids were excited to give me presents and tried not to fight all day. It was fun to have kids at an age that understand about mother's day. :) My parents kindly traveled to my home to have dinner, it was fun to be together. We had dessert with the Schauers later. I felt honored and was happy to be able to honor my mother and mother in law.

Savanna lost her 10th tooth, when does it stop being news that kids teeth fall out? Not as exciting anymore, however she pulled this one out all by herself in the school bathroom which I thought was very brave.

Early Mother's Day Tribute

With Mother's Day coming up I thought I'd write a little tribute to my mom, Kathy Sue Barrett. Most people know she is a mother of 10 children, and that alone is amazing enough. But she manages to be a mother of 10 with such an amazing attitude, always loving her children no matter what their faults, and trying to serve her children whenever she can. Mom is always being faithful and positive, and a great example of turning to the Lord in every trial. She has 9 grandchildren and 2 more on the way! She also overcame depression with very limited outside help which is amazing to me. She is also quite a card player! She loves hiking, the outdoors are her favorite place to be. I also admire her determination to go to the temple once a week now that her children are older. I could go on and on about her musical talents! She fostered my love for music and writes songs and sings wonderfully. (She taught a lesson in Relief Society this past week and sang 4 songs she composed, it was very brave and a great way to share the gospel and invite the spirit.) I feel very blessed to have such a valiant and wonderful mother!